Tower Transit Bus Service 974

Tower Transit Bus Service 974 is a trunk service plying between Bukit Panjang and Joo Koon, passing through Choa Chu Kang, KJE, Jalan Bahar, Boon Lay and Pioneer.

Service 974 was launched on Sunday, 8th April 2018. It was the fifth new route to be introduced under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) after Service 68.

New Short Trip Service 974A commences from 13 January 2019 in tandem with the adjusted Bukit Panjang LRT operating hours.

Technical Information
Route	Bukit Panjang MRT Station ↔ Joo Koon Bus Interchange
Passes Through	Choa Chu Kang, KJE, Jalan Bahar, Boon Lay, Pioneer
Route Length	18.1 km (D1) | 17.3km (D2)
Travelling Time	40 – 55 mins
Operator Information
BCM Route Package	Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Panjang Bus Package (Negotiated Contract)
Current Operator	Tower Transit Singapore
Current Depot	Bulim Bus Depot
Current Fleet	Double Deck buses: – Volvo B9TL Single Deck buses: – MAN A22 – Mercedes-Benz Citaro
Departure Times from Bt Panjang MRT	0545hrs – 2330hrs (Daily)
Departure Times from Joo Koon	0545hrs – 2330hrs (Daily)
Frequency	Direction 1	Direction 2
	0630 – 0830: 13 – 15 mins 0831 – 1659: 15 mins 1700 – 1900: 15 mins After 1900: 15 – 16 mins	0630 – 0830: 15 mins 0831 – 1659: 15 mins 1700 – 1900: 13 – 15 mins After 1900: 15 – 16 mins

Bus Service 974 is a trunk service from Bukit Panjang MRT Station to Joo Koon. The route enhances inter-town connectivity and provides Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang residents with access to existing bus services plying Nanyang Technological University and Jurong Industrial Estate. It will also enhance connectivity in the west by linking Bukit Panjang Station (Downtown Line) and Choa Chu Kang Station (North-South Line) to Boon Lay, Pioneer and Joo Koon Stations (East-West Line).

The route is expected to relieve end-to-end demand on Service 172 by opening up a new express bus corridor along the Kranji Expressway (KJE), offering faster journeys between Choa Chu Kang and Boon Lay, as well as complementing existing bus connections between Boon Lay and Joo Koon. Connecting directly to Joo Koon, the route will also benefit commuters travelling between the north of Singapore and industries at Joo Koon via train, reducing the need to transfer between the North South Line and East West Line at Jurong East.

Service 974 buses layover at Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park. However, no boarding and alighting is allowed there. The first stop of Joo Koon-bound trips start from Bus Stop 44029 (Bt Panjang Stn Exit A/LRT) along Upp Bt Timah Rd, while the last stop for Bukit Panjang bound trips is at Bus Stop 44031 (Aft Bt Panjang Stn) along Upp Bt Timah Rd.

In tandem with the adjustment of Bukit Panjang LRT Operating Hours to facilitate renewal works from 13 January 2019, new Short Trip Service 974A from Bukit Panjang MRT Station to Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT Station was introduced, along with Special Departures of Service 974 from Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT Station to  Bukit Panjang MRT Station.

MRT/LRT Stations Served:

• NS4BP1  Choa Chu Kang
• BP2 South View
• BP3 Keat Hong
• BP4 Teck Whye
• BP5  Phoenix
• BP6DT1   Bukit Panjang
• EW27  Boon Lay
• EW28  Pioneer
• EW29  Joo Koon

Special Deparutres

• Choa Chu Kang Ave 4 (Opp Choa Chu Kang Stn) → Upp Bt Timah Rd (Aft Bt Panjang Stn) 
  Daily: 0017hrs, 0031hrs, 0045hrs, 0100hrs
  

Short Trip Service

• Service 974A: Upp Bt Timah Rd (Bt Panjang Stn Exit A/LRT) → Choa Chu Kang Ave 4 (Lot 1/Choa Chu Kang Stn)
  Daily: 2338hrs, 2346hrs, 2354hrs, 0005hrs, 0015hrs, 0025hrs, 0040hrs, 0055hrs, 0110hrs

Fare: Charges basic distance fares. See Bus Fares.

Early Announcement

This route was revealed on 28 January 2018 on mobile applications displaying bus arrival timings using LTA Datamall.

The service was also displayed on the departure timings board of Joo Koon Bus Interchange.